In Situ Forming Hydrogel Based on Chondroitin Sulfate–Hydroxyapatite for Bone Tissue Engineering

In this research, tissue engineered hydrogels consist of chondroitin sulfate and hydroxyapatite capable of light curing and cell encapsulation were prepared. Chemical and physical characteristics were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy, compressive strength and water uptake measurements. Observations with fluorescence microscopy as well as MTT viability assay revealed no toxicity for encapsulated cells. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and gene expression analysis were determined to prove the osteogenic potential of the prepared hydrogel. In conclusion, this in situ forming hydrogel can be utilized as filler for bone deficiencies as well as carrier for cell encapsulation and osteogenic differentiation.     

Hepatic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells by a small molecule

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. A periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain-based assay was developed to screen for small-molecule inducers of hepatic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs. 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-propyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-amine (SJA710-6) was identified as a novel small molecule able to induce the differentiation of rat MSCs (rMSCs) toward hepatocyte-like cells in vitro, where rMSCs treated with SJA710-6 have typical morphological and functional characteristics of hepatic cells, including glycogen storage, urea secretion, uptake of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and expression of hepatocyte-specific genes and proteins. Expression of FoxH1 (FAST1/2) induces the differentiation of rMSCs towards hepatocyte-like cells, suggesting that this gene plays an important role in the hepatic fate specification of rMSCs.     

Thermal Explosions in the Early Evolution of the Earth

Exothermic regimes in the Earth's interior at an early stage of evolution are considered. Conditions are found that lead to selfaccelerating development of gravitational differentiation—separation of the heavier material forming the Earth's core from silicates in extended and heated local areas.     

Application of whey protein isolate in bone regeneration: Effects on growth and osteogenic differentiation of bone-forming cells

Recently, milk-derived proteins have attracted attention for applications in the biomedical field such as tissue regeneration. Whey protein isolate (WPI), especially its main component β-lactoglobulin, can modulate immunity and acts as an antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, and antibacterial agent. There are very few reports of the application of WPI in tissue engineering, especially in bone tissue engineering. In this study, we tested the influence of different concentrations of WPI on behavior of human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells, human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC), and human neonatal dermal fibroblasts (FIB). The positive effect on growth was apparent for Saos-2 cells and FIB but not for ASC. However, the expression of markers characteristic for early osteogenic cell differentiation [type-I collagen (COL1) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] as well as ALP activity, increased dose-dependently in ASC. Importantly, Saos-2 cells were able to deposit calcium in the presence of WPI, even in a proliferation medium without other supplements that support osteogenic cell differentiation. The results indicate that, depending on the cell type, WPI can act as an enhancer of cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, enrichment of biomaterials for bone regeneration with WPI seems a promising approach, especially due to the low cost of WPI.     

RAPD with microsatellite as a tool for differentiation of Candida genus yeasts isolated in brewing

Fifteen wild yeast strains were isolated in two factories of a lager brewing company in Poland. Their identification with API 32C system showed mainly the presence of Candida sake species (7/15). To differentiate the isolates, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with (GTG)(5), (GAC)(5), (GACA)(4) microsatellite primers and M13 core sequence (5'-GAG GGT GGC GGT TCT-3') were chosen. The results of patterns similarity are presented as dendrograms for each RAPD analysis and for overall patterns. On the overall patterns, all isolates identified as C. sake, except Strain No. 1, were regrouped in one cluster. Collection strain C. sake CBS 617 was similar in 46% to the cluster with six isolates (Strain Nos. 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14). The second reference strain C. sake CBS 159 and the Strain No. 1 were regrouped with other Candida species (collection strains) showing, respectively, only 20% and 42% of similarity to other C. sake strains. The similarity based on the overall dendrogram between isolate Nos. 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14 and C. sake CBS 617 was 49%. Between those strains and other Candida, the similarity was only 37%.     

黄土高原水土流失的地质环境研究

黄上高原水土流失具有明显的地区差异,但从地质构造来看,多为第三纪或中生代晚期形成的一些构造盆地,早期接受堆积,第四纪地壳运动上升而成为受侵蚀地区。岩性决定着地表的抗蚀性和对水分的保蓄能力,新构造运动为流水侵蚀提供了潜能,二二者共间作用,构成影响水土流失的地质背景及内力地质作用的地位。由地质环境的分析表明,水土保持应主要着眼于两个方面：一是改变地表的抗蚀能力和对水分的保蓄能力;二是改变地表的坡度,减小水流的能量。对此提出了相应的水土保持措施。     

客户关系管理型供电客户服务中心的建设

客户关系管理是国际上新兴的企业经营理念，它是一种旨在改善企业与客户之间关系的新型管理机制。在市场经济新形势的服务要求下，建立客户关系管理型供电客户服务中心是必要的。介绍了新型客户服务中心的架构和运作模式．以及如何区别对待不同的客户群(或客户)，制定和实施差异化服务．提高客户的忠诚度和满意度。通过一年多的实践．取得了显的经济效益和社会效益。